Page 10 of The Boyfriend Gamble

“Ten years.”

“Christ, that’s a long time.”

“I know.”

I chanced a glance at him as we sat at the red light. “You’re going to need a place to stay.”

“Yeah.”

“Any leads?”

He scoffed. “I’ve known for what, ten seconds? No, I don’t have offers of people coming out of the woodwork to give me a room.”

“You know…I have a second bedroom in my condo.”

“That you use as a gaming room-slash-office.”

He had a point. Still. “I can move that stuff into storage. We can set up a bed for you. It’ll be a single.”

“It won’t fit.”

“How do you know? Hey, why don’t you come to my place right now, and we can take measurements?” Even as I drove south down Cedar Street, the plan coalesced. “Really, Tanner, we can make this work.”

Fifteen minutes later, as we stood in my second bedroom, I read the doubt on his face with the little furrow in his brow.

“I suppose we could fit a single bed.” He held his arms out.

“Look, I can donate that huge desk. And I don’t need a treadmill at home. We have plenty at the office—”

He held up his hand. “I don’t want you to rearrange your life for me. I can find another place.”

I snagged his hand. “Maybe you can. But chances are, you’ll be paying way more money than I’d ever charge you. And I know you’re saving up for your own place.”

His gaze caught mine.

“Seriously, Tanner, do you think there’s anything about you that I don’t know? You’re my sister’s best friend. You’ve been in my life for almost twenty-five years.”

“You don’t know everything.”

He said the words quietly, and I caught the wistful expression.

I snagged his chin and tipped it toward me. “Okay, I admit I didn’t see what was right in front of me. I don’t know what got switched on last night, but I finally saw you for the man you are, not as Nita’s friend.” I wasn’t going to sayas the little brother I’d always considered you.“And maybe I was out of line for kissing—”

When he lunged at me, I was caught off guard. He pushed me against the wall, pressed his body to mine, and dragged me down for a kiss.

Since we’d had theconsentdiscussion last night, and because I definitely consented, I dove in wholeheartedly. I thrust my tongue into the recesses of his mouth, demanding submission. I pressed my hands against the wall, rubbing myself against him.

He reacted.

I reacted.

Our cocks brushed and, even through the cotton of our shorts, I couldn’t help but feel his heat. “My bed. Please.”

He met my gaze, his eyes a little glazed. “Yes, please.”

I snagged his hand and led him away from the office. My bedroom was…the chaotic mess it tended to be. But then I’d never had someone to share it with. Had never had a reason to keep it clean—unless I knew my mother was coming over. Those times, I always remembered to hide the sex toys as well.

Tanner stopped at the foot of my bed. He pulled his lower lip through his teeth. “I’ve never…”

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